True Tales by Disability Advocates – Details, episodes & analysis

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True Tales by Disability Advocates

True Tales by Disability Advocates

Art Spark Texas, Speaking Advocates Program

Arts
Arts
Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/47d. Total Eps: 25

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Where advocates harness the power of storytelling to build community with their peers and hope to develop empathy in others. A team of disability advocates creates this True Tales podcast to share personal stories by disabled storytellers and add their voices to the growing community of podcast listeners.

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    25/02/2026
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    24/02/2026
    #51
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    06/08/2025
    #95
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - performingArts

    05/08/2025
    #63

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Lucky in Friendship, Love, and Life

Season 3 · Episode 23

mercredi 2 octobre 2024Duration 40:20

In Episode 23 of True Tales by Disability Advocates, hosts MsBoye, Jennifer McKinney, and Adam Griebel welcome storyteller, actor, dancer, and friend Juan Munoz. Juan shares with MsBoye touching and humorous stories about his friendships, his childhood, and his enduring love with his late wife Susie. They discuss his journey as a dancer and his involvement with Actual Lives Austin Theater Group.  Juan's reflections on love and loss offer a poignant exploration of his life and relationships. He opens up with vulnerability & honesty,  about the challenges and blessings he encountered in his life.  Listen to hear how Juan's radical decision to embrace dance and his unwavering bond with Susie shaped his extraordinary journey and have become the foundations for his future adventures.

 

Guest Bio

Juan Munez, born in Santa Maria, California, is a storyteller, actor, and certified dance instructor. Passionate about inclusive dance, Juan initially focused on teaching dance to individuals of all abilities. His journey later took him to Austin, Texas, where he performed with the Actual Lives Austin Theater Group and shared poignant, often humorous stories about his experiences. A devoted person of faith, Juan advocates for religious communities to be inclusive and accessible. His life reflects a deep commitment to community, connection, and creativity, showing how challenges can spark advocacy and the desire to build empathy and understanding through storytelling. His enduring dedication to his late wife Susie and their shared adventures exemplify a life richly lived with love and resilience.

 

Links

Art Spark Dance

Body Shift Collective

DanceAbility International

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Making Connections and Changing Lives

Season 3 · Episode 22

jeudi 22 août 2024Duration 48:17

Making Connections and Changing Lives

In this episode of the True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast, hosts MsBoye, Jennifer McKinney, and Adam Griebel present stories from disability advocates. The episode includes a reflection on Mesko's early advocacy and a reading of his story "Glen," followed by an interview with advocate Kyle Cox, highlighting the importance of community connections and perseverance. Guest host Toby Al-Trabulsi engages with Kyle about his advocacy journey, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy and the role of supportive relationships.

Podcast logo ID:   Bottom left Mesko wearing glasses and a flat cap smiles into the camera. Bottom right Kyle Cox male with short brown hair smiling, seated wearing a light blue button-down shirt, red tie. All above TRUE TALES BY DISABILITY ADVOCATES SEASON 3 Art Spark Texas

Guest Bio 

Kyle Cox graduated from Texas A&M in 2018 with a degree in Political Science, then received his Master of Public Administration from the Bush School of Public Service and Government in 2020.  

Born in El Paso, Texas with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle disorder that is the leading fatal genetic disorder in children, Kyle has learned to navigate a world not designed for people with disabilities.   He has fully immersed himself in both the disability and the “abled” communities and has adopted the mantra “It’s not the disability, it’s the ABILITY” choosing to focus on his abilities.

While at Texas A&M, Kyle was involved in numerous campus organizations including the Diversity Commission, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) Christian fraternity, Aggie Adaptive Sports, the Bush School Ambassador's Council, the Symphonic Band, and the Hullabaloo Pep band.   He was twice elected to the Student Senate and was elected to the Bush School Ambassador Council.  He was also Chairman and Founder of the Disability Subcommission.

Kyle served on the Student Advisory Board for Disability Services and the planning committees for the Student Services Building and the 21st Century Classroom Building.   Kyle served as a delegate for the MSC Fall Leadership Conference and the Abbott Family Leadership Conference and has worked with many Texas A&M officials, Disability Services, and the Center on Disability and Development to improve inclusion and accessibility on the A&M campus.  

In the Spring of 2018, Kyle received the Gary Grey Accountability, Climate, and Equity (ACE) Award for his work in advocacy, and in the Spring of 2020, the Buck Weirus Award. 

Upon graduation, Kyle chose to remain in Aggieland and launched his own consulting company, Cox Consultants, which offers policy consulting and analytics to businesses and agencies.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/KylesKomrades/

https://kylecoxeportfolio.weebly.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CoxConsultants/

Videos:

https://vimeo.com/269928141/236823631

https://vimeo.com/269928141/269928141


Highlights

00:43 Welcome

01:23 Episode Intro

03:10 Mesko Intro

06:32 Story - "Getting Older" by Mesko

07:44 Hosts & Chris Chat

07:47 Phenomena, not Conclusion

12:15 Toby Welcomes Kyle

14:02 Story - "Advocacy, Education, and Relationships" by Kyle Cox

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Practice Peace Not Pity

Season 2 · Episode 13

samedi 31 décembre 2022Duration 50:12

Note: This episode is slightly longer than usual to honor the natural speech patterns of our guests.

Welcome to the Mid-Winter Episode of True Tales by Disability Advocates, season two. Winter is the time of stillness and darkness when nature encourages us to look within and access what’s ready to grow in the coming year. In this episode, “Practice Peace not Pity”, hosts Toby Al-Tarabulsi and Kristen Gooch talk to storytellers Kaye Love and Darla Murphy about the practices they use to find peace in their lives. We invite you to join them and take time to look within and discover new ways to find peace for yourself in the coming year.

Part 1 “Pity Fatigue”

Host Toby Al-Trabulsi and guest Kaye Love discuss her journey in life and the strategies she developed to protect herself from the toxic impact of ableism in her story “Pity Fatigue.”

Bio Kaye Love - Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental and learning disabilities, including Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. She has experience providing spiritually sensitive counseling to clients who identify with diverse belief systems, including Buddhism, Christianity, Ethical Humanism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Wicca.
Click this link to listen to “Community Faith and Inclusion”
ID:  Caucasian woman with light brown hair smiling. She is wearing a stole and a blue shirt and dark-rimmed glasses.

Website: kayelove.com
LinkedIn: J. Kaye Love, MSSW/MBA, LPC,
Counseling on Thrive: Thriveworks Counseling - Janet Kaye Love 
Acting: http://tiltperformance.org/

Bio Toby Al-Trabulsi - Toby Al-Trabulsi is an actor, writer and creative access advocate for performers with disabilities based out of Austin, TX. Toby is a member of TILT Performance Group and ScriptWorks and is currently pursuing podcasting through the podcasting working group for Art Spark Texas, True Tales by Disability Advocates podcast. He is eager to see where this journey takes him. 
ID:  Toby Al-Trabulsi, a white male with brown hair. Toby is seated and holding a plate of food. He is wearing a red shirt with text “ZOO YORK”.
Follow Toby on Twitter or Instagram
Twitter: @Tobias_Zane
Instagram: @Tobias_Zane
text “ZOO YORK”.

 Part 2 “Peace Fountain”
After Darla Murphy presents her story, “Peace Fountain,” host Kristen Gooch learns more about Darla’s love of creative writing, storytelling, and the other things that bring her peace.

 Bio Kristen Gooch - Kristen Gooch is an Actress, Poet and Advocate from Austin, Tx with Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.  She hopes to broaden her horizons and branch out into film and television someday.  She currently facilitates a peer support group called Adapting Shero's for women with mobility disabilities through Imagineart.  She is a company member of TILT Performance Group and Paradox Player.
ID: A caucasian young woman with shoulder-length auburn h

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Kindness and Connections with Gene and Cade

Season 2 · Episode 12

samedi 19 novembre 2022Duration 40:28

Hosts Brittany Sessum and Kaye Love introduce storytellers Gene Rodgers and Cade Insall, who share stories about the ways they have used Kindness and Connections to transform their lives.

As we enter the holiday season, listening to “Kindness and Connections” brings you the courage you need to find hope and peace in your life, no matter the circumstances right now.

Guest - Gene Rodgers

As a wheelchair user, Gene Rodgers traveled in 44 countries, on 6 continents. Rodgers sailed on many types of ships on several oceans. He has enjoyed diverse recreational activities including skydiving, snow skiing, sailing, scuba diving, paragliding, and trekking in the Himalayas on an expedition to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
Rodgers worked in several states and earned a merit award for computer programming. Working full-time, and later as an entrepreneur provided funding for his adventures.
Rodgers earned several college degrees and a Switzer Fellowship. He did all this after becoming almost totally paralyzed at age 17, in a hiking accident.
Rodgers learned to thrive on all sorts of adventures. Put him in a country ten thousand miles from home, where he doesn’t know the language or culture, and he’ll feel quite comfortable. 

 My Memoir - AwesomeByAccidentBook.com
My web page - https://genosplace.org
My TV/Web Show -  https://thegeneanddaveshow.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gene.rodgers.982/

Guest- Cade Insall:
Cade Insall is a Texan that loves to be around family and friends. Cade loves animation and making 3D modeling projects through Blender. Cade likes interacting with others and learning new things in his expression through art.

Host
Brittany Sessum is a Houston native and Army veteran who loves connecting with others. She has a passion to serve her family, the community, and her country by giving back in any capacity. She believes that her passions and actions live beyond herself. Brittany loves writing poetry, reading, traveling, and working as an entrepreneur.

Host:
 Kaye is passionate about assisting individuals to explore and enhance their sense of meaning and purpose in life in a way that is sensitive to and respectful of their religious or non-religious understanding. She understands the challenges of developing an appreciation of a personal skill set that is unique, positive self-esteem, and creative work-arounds for functional limitations, as well as the difficulties involved in navigating education, employment, healthcare, and community organizations designed for those with typicality. Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental and learning disabilities, including Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. She is experienced with providing spiritually sensitive counseling to clients who identify with diverse belief systems “Faith and Inclusion”
Website: kayelove.com
LinkedIn: J. Kaye Love, MSSW/MBA, LPC, - Austin, Texas, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn
Schedule Couns

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

The Gift of Not Paying Attention

Season 2 · Episode 11

mercredi 19 octobre 2022Duration 37:21

Host Kristen Gooch, and storyteller PiPa McCollister, talk honestly about life in a world not designed for folks with CP, Dyslexia, or ADHD. After PiPa presents her story, “The Gift of Not Paying Attention,” host Kristen learns more about PiPa’s lived experience with ADHD. They discuss the impact of ADHD in adulthood, struggles finding a job, getting accommodations and PiPa's experience as a mother of a child with ADHD and Dyslexia and the strategies they use to celebrate their lives as a neurodivergent family. 

Host Bio: Kristen Gooch is an Actress, Poet and Advocate from Austin, Tx with Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.  She hopes to broaden her horizons and branch out into film and television some day.  She currently facilitates a peer support group called Adapting Sheros for women with mobility disabilities.  She is a company member of TILT performance group and Paradox Players.

Guest Bio:   PiPa McCollister first came to Art Spark of Texas in 2015. She and her daughter have lived in many areas of the state including East Texas, Austin, and most recently, North Texas. She was born and raised in Cleburne, Texas. PiPa graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2012. She has worked in Special Education for children and adults for over 8 years. She continues to advocate for dyslexic students, children with autism, homeschool rights, and individuals with learning disabilities. PiPa now resides in Cleburne, Texas with her fiance, daughter, and three pets.

Contact Information: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pipa.mccollister
TikTok: tiktok.com/pipamac48

Resources
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/adhd-awareness-month-2021-hallowell-solden-podcast-375/
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/empowering-women-adhd/
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/adhd-in-girls-women-risks-stigma/
https://adhdgirlsandwomen.org/

https://dyslexiaida.org/










Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Positively Shining Bright

Season 1 · Episode 10

lundi 22 août 2022Duration 30:45

We end the first season of True Tales by Disability Advocates with "Positively Shining Bright".
 The stories in this episode highlight the power of choosing a positive mindset. Host Brittany Sessum introduces us to storytellers, Carlos Orellana, and Anne Marie Buckle. In their stories, "Listen to My World" and "Advocate Me," they share how in their own ways they practice having a positive mindset and how remembering to be grateful can help when they have a difficult day or have uncomfortable feelings.

They remind us that focusing on positivity doesn't mean we won't have problems, but it will determine how we dance with them when they show up in our lives.

When Brittany chats with Carlos and Anne Marie about their stories, their conversations offer us a sweet, sensitive insight into their lives living with Cerebral Palsy and Autism respectively. We titled this episode "Positively Shinning Bright" because [chuckles] that was our experience of both Carlos and Anne Marie during our recording sessions.

We chose to launch this episode during August in the spirit of "Happiness Happens Month." I mean, we all wanna be happy, right? But happiness is an emotion and all emotions are fleeting, that is that they come and they go, they're not fixed, that's the nature of them. Every day we experience a range of feelings and emotions, no matter what's going on in our lives.  We can learn to practice choosing a positive outlook and focusing on the good in every situation, no matter what we are feeling.

 Guest Anne Marie Buckle

Meet Anne Marie (Rie) Buckle. She is a vibrant young adult working every day to overcome autism, IDD and PANS. For Rie, adulthood brings new adventures like getting jobs in various sectors, exploring her passions, and becoming more independent. These things don’t just happen overnight, however. With the ongoing support of her family, therapists, and mentors, Anne Marie has been able to accomplish many of

She was crowned Texas Miss Amazing 2017.

You can find her store at https://www.facebook.com/RiesMarketplace/

And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/riesmarketplace

 Guest Carlos Orellana

A guy that’s passionate about writing, U.S. History, Theater, and wrestling. Carlos is also a kid at heart even if he’s 28 years old, that enjoys to laugh as well. He is extremely proud to be from Guatemala and loves his family too. He makes his friends happy and laughs when they have a hard day in their life. But, the most important thing to know about Carlos is that he has Cerebral Palsy. Even if his life is hard with Cerebral Palsy, it’s also a happy one too.

You can follow Carlos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/carlosrafael.orellana.7

Photo ID: Carlos is an Hispanic male with black short and spiky hair wearing glasses. Carlos is smiling in the picture with an eagle pendant necklace, black long-sleeved shirt, and white sweats. Carlos is sitting in a black wheelchair with a grayish-blue door behind him. 

Host Brittany Sessum

Brittany Sessum is a Houston native and Army veteran that loves making connections with others. She has a passion to serve her family, the community, and her country by giving back in any capacity. She believes that her passions and actions live beyond herself. Brittany loves writing poetry, reading, traveling, and working as an entrepreneur.

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Independence

Season 1 · Episode 9

jeudi 14 juillet 2022Duration 23:46

For Disability Pride Month, Kaye Love chats to Tanya Winters and Kamand Alaghehband about their stories “Pediacrisis” and “Kamand’s View: No More Prejudice”. Stories about how they navigate the predictable and unexpected barriers they meet daily. We hope your day is enriched by listening to “Independence”. Full transcript available.
World Health Organization on Disability

Guest: Tanya Winters - A Chicago native, Tanya fell in love with Austin after a weekend trip. She loves creating and enjoys pushing the boundaries of arts and disability! Tanya's career as an artist began in theatre in 2005 and shifted to dance in 2007 thanks to a wooden chair and the desire to tell her story. As a student of Austin Community College, she gained an extensive background in improvisation and choreography. She has learned from some of the dance world’s top artists like Alito Alessi Nina Martin, Heidi Latsky, Sandra Paola Lopez, and Stephan Koplowitz.  Tanya started making work of her own and became a certified DanceAbility instructor in 2011. Currently, she is a member of the Body Shift Collective, where she loves dancing, teaching, creating and collaborating with other dancers with and without disabilities. Tanya is the co-choreographer of Together and Apart an ongoing duet that explores the relationship between movement, environment, and the art of human interaction. She hopes that her work will motivate other dancers to think outside the box and erase the line between ability and disability.  Tanya also has a solid background in Social Work, grant reporting, and case management. She possesses excellent communication and organizational skills which help her deal with the complex regulations governing social services. Walk & Roll: https://youtu.be/1IQ6W2NybfA
Constable Pct. 5's Disabled Parking Awareness Video: https://youtu.be/LR0XoXb_w-g
Together & Apart: https://vimeo.com/183923919 And You See Me: https://youtu.be/RSB_WFRbEEI

 Guest: Kamand Alaghehband - My name is Kamand Alaghehband. I was born in Austin Texas, and I have autism. In 2020 the CDC reported approximately 1 in 54 children in U.S. diagnosed with autism is more than all cancer patients combined. But what about us? what happens to our future? What kind of jobs and lifestyle is available to support us. All my life I tried to support not only me but all generations with disabilities.  I am me, I am Kamand. I love Special Olympics. My favorite sports are swimming, basketball, and Track. I am a member of the executive committee of special Olympics athletes leadership in Texas. I created podcasts, TikTok, video games and a variety of health activities during a pandemic to keep the athlete's minds occupied in a healthy way.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to maintain some of those activities cause was costing me money.  My mission with my population is to bring peace for today and create a vision for tomorrow for disabled population.  I feel grateful for what I have. I choose to be thankful. I choose to be happy. Gratitude turns what I have into enough and more. My Instagram info is ka.special . My TikTok account is KAspecialglobal.

Host: Kaye Love - Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

Awakenings

Season 1 · Episode 8

mardi 14 juin 2022Duration 19:30

Full transcripts of all episodes available at https://truetalesbydisabilityadvocates.buzzsprout.com

In this episode, guests Laura Odom and Sheena Walter tell host John Beer about the “Awakenings” in their lives. Laura pushed through doubts brought on by years of narcolepsy to try her hand at a new adventure (“Finally Waking Up”), while Sheena flipped self-consciousness about her PICC line into a new and very public role of “Advocacy, Courage and Self-Compassion.” Both women took a stroke of boldness that ignited newfound lives of advocacy and pride in themselves! Listen in to learn about their victories. Toby Al-Trabulsi produces, Kristen Gooch and Ms. Boye mixing and editing, and Jennifer Howell and Joey Gidseg provide script and production.

HOST
No moss gathers on a rolling wheelchair, and throughout the state of Texas are sightings of John Beer and his travel trailer. With his wife's help, John spotlights the disability side of skydiving, fire evacuations and other topics for New Mobility magazine. You’ll also find him on MS Connections at TheMighty.com – and he's wheelie excited being on the team creating Art Spark Texas' new podcast, True Tales by Disability Advocates. John was a member of our first Virtual Speaking Advocates Training and is one of the storytellers in Episode 2, “Life on Wheels”

Keep up with John Beer on his blog: Wheelieoutthere.blogspot.com
Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelieoutthere/

GUEST
Laura Odom is a Tyler, Texas-based advocate primarily for disability and rural causes. She is also the office manager for a locally owned textbook publisher. When she isn’t working, she takes her Australian Shepherd/Border Collie-mix dog for car rides and loves to snuggle with her two black cats. She enjoys writing, playing guitar and cross-stitching. Laura was diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1 in January 2021 after pursuing a diagnosis for almost 20 years. She continues to raise awareness about Narcolepsy in hopes that more people won’t have to wait that long to receive treatment.

On social media, you can find her at: Instagram: @ordinarileigh
TikTok: ordinarileigh
Twitter: @lauradoestweet
Facebook: Laura Ashleigh Odom

GUEST
Sheena Walter is an artist at Imagine Art in Austin and also works for Art Spark Texas as a social media influencer. She wants to advocate for a change in how people with disabilities are viewed in our society and make sure we have not just a seat at the table, but a voice as well. Her sources of strength and inspiration are her faith, her friends, her family, her pets and walks in the outdoors. 

 Find Sheena and her art on Instagram @sheenawalter1 





Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

New Normal

Season 1 · Episode 7

jeudi 12 mai 2022Duration 25:17

To listen with full transcript, go to https://truetalesbydisabilityadvocates.buzzsprout.com/

In this episode, host Joey Gidseg talks to Jennifer Howell about her story, “From Ally to Self-Advocate.” Jennifer describes going from being the daughter of parents with disabilities to becoming someone with disabilities of her own, and the surprising things she learns along the way. Even for someone long familiar with disabilities, actually becoming a person with a disability of her own was for Jennifer a through-the-looking-glass kind of experience. Her story sparks an impassioned discussion between Jennifer and Joey, edited by Toby Al-Trabulsi and Ms. Boye, with script and production work by Kristen Gooch and John Beer.

Jennifer Howell
Jennifer Howell's lifetime of personal experience with disability – as a caregiver, teacher and person with disabilities herself – has led to her work as an accessibility and creative placemaking consultant. She is a special education teacher, published author, award-winning artist and online instructor to students around the globe, ages 4 to 94. As an Accessible Yoga Ambassador, she has led classes for over a decade for seniors and persons with disabilities. Her other curricula include hand-lettering and cursive handwriting, and sustainable fashion. Jennifer is a member of IAMPETH (International Assoc. of Master Penmen, Engrossers & Teachers of Handwriting) and the Climate Reality Leadership Corps.
Jennifer can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-howell-3179248/

Host
Joey Gidseg 

Joey Gidseg is an enthusiast of podcasts and disability policy who works to close the gaps in Access to Justice for disabled Texans. As chair of a statewide disability caucus and former multimedia producer, Joey is thrilled to collaborate with other disabled creators on Art Spark Texas’ podcast, True Tales by Disability Advocates.
You can connect or keep up with Joey on their Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin:
https://www.facebook.com/joeygidsegfortexas/
https://twitter.com/joeyinatx
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeygidseg/
Learn more about closing the justice gap at
https://www.justiceinreach.org/









Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.

The Power of Dressing Up

Season 1 · Episode 6

mardi 5 avril 2022Duration 33:18

To listen with full transcript, go to https://truetalesbydisabilityadvocates.buzzsprout.com/

In this episode, our storytellers share two very different experiences of dressing up and playing different characters, while using a wheelchair. Host Kamand Alaghehband talks to Jessica Guerrero and Renee Lopez. They talk about their journey with Cosplay and Halloween in their stories Cosplay and Witchy Woman.
Renee Lopez
Renee Lopez a 60-year-old woman with a physical disability and uses a wheelchair. Renee was born and raised in Austin, Texas where she has lived her entire life. Renee graduated from the University of Texas in 1984 and 1986 with a BA and an M.Ed. respectively. Renee worked for the State of Texas for 30 years and is now retired. Renee has a long history of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities since 1982 when she was a student at The University of Texas.  As a student with a life-long physical disability, Renee joined other students with disabilities for campus accessibility. She continues to advocate to this day. Renee is on the Advisory Board for SAFE Disability Services since 2010.  She has attended conferences on behalf of SAFE as a workshop presenter teaching and informing conference attendees on issues of violence and abuse against persons with Disabilities. Renee is also a member of a core group of a coalition put together by the VERA Institute of Justice on ending violence against people with disabilities.
Jessica Guerrero
She has lived independently in Austin for around 10 years and has been with the Speaking Advocates program from its very first class. She told us, “I have a mild case of Cerebral Palsy but my wheelchair has opened the door to cosplay, martial arts, traveling, adaptive sports and so many other adventures.”
She also really enjoys helping out in the community.
HOST
Kamand Alaghehband was born in Austin, TX and has Autism. In 2020,  The CDC reported approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. were diagnosed with autism. This ratio is more than all cancer patients combined. Kamand has spent her life supporting all generations with disabilities. Kamand loves the Special Olympics and her favorite sports are swimming, basketball, and track. Kamand is a member of the executive committee of Special Olympics Athletes Leadership in Texas. I have created podcasts, Tik Tok videos, video games, and a variety of health activities during the pandemic to keep the athlete’s mind occupied in a healthy way. Kammand’s mission within her population is to bring peace today and create a vision for tomorrow’s disabled population. Kamand hopes that she’ll be able to teach others to turn denial into acceptance.
Instagram: Ka.special
Tik Tok: KAspecialglobal

MUSIC CREDITS
1.      scandinavianz-sunbathers-7385/ - Music by Scandinavianz - Pixabay

2.      spookymagic-7050 – from Pixabay

3.      old-church-bel

Click here to listen with the full transcript.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.


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